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Syria refugee tally tops 1.5 million

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 06:46
More than 1.5 million Syrians have fled their conflict-ravaged homeland, the UN's refugee agency said Friday, warning that the real figure could be even higher as the tally only reflected those who register with aid groups. Dan McNorton, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, told reporters that close to 250,000 Syrians were being registered each month. "Refugees tell us the increased fighting and changing of control of towns and villages, in particular in conflict areas, results in more and more civilians deciding to leave," McNorton said.

Australia extends reach of tough refugee policy

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 05:15
Australia on Thursday extended tough refugee policies to any asylum-seeker who lands on its mainland, allowing them to be banished to remote Nauru or Papua New Guinea for detention. Until now, the government only had powers to send boatpeople for indefinite detention in the Pacific when they reached its remote offshore territories such as Christmas Island. The change, which was passed in parliament Thursday, strips away any advantage asylum-seekers get from reaching the mainland.

Growing crisis in Syria has aid agencies pleading for help

The Canadian PressMay 14, 2013 17:15
OTTAWA - A coalition of aid groups launched a public campaign Tuesday to raise money for Syrian refugees, saying demand for assistance far outpaces global government donations. The Humanitarian Coalition said they believe Canadians want to support the estimated 6.8 million people affected by the ongoing civil war in Syria, but don't know how. The Syrian-Canadian community has exhausted its resources to assist family members and churches and unions have tried to help as well, said Robert Fox, executive director for Oxfam Canada.

EU warns Syria crisis at 'breaking point', increases aid

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 11:46
The European Commission announced on Sunday an additional 65 million euros ($84 million) in aid for Syrian refugees and internally displaced, warning the crisis is "already at breaking point". The announcement was made in a statement released to coincide with a visit to Syrian refugees in Jordan by humanitarian aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva. "The more atrocities and fighting go on in Syria, the more people run. There are no indications whatsoever that this ... is going to go down," Georgieva told AFP after visiting the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan's north.

Turkey protect Syrian refugees after bombings backlash

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 08:15
Turkish police moved on Sunday to protect Syrian refugees after residents of Reyhanli turned their anger on them in the wake of twin bombings that killed at least 46 people in this border town with Syria. As cranes removed charred debris from the scenes of Saturday's twin car bombings, blamed on pro-Damascus forces, dozens of cars with Syrian plates lay vandalised in the town's streets. There was not much left standing near rain-filled craters hollowed out by the force of the explosions, except for random pieces of torn clothing, stained with blood and mud.

US unveiling extra $100 mn for Syrian refugees

Agence France-PresseMay 8, 2013 19:00
The United States is to give another $100 million to help provide humanitarian aid to the Syrian refugees, boosting its total to $510 million, the State Department said Wednesday. The additional funds, due to be officially announced on Thursday by Secretary of State John Kerry, will help fund UN programmes providing shelter, food and help to refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey as well as inside Syria, the department said in a statement. jkb/ide/bm

Russia's Lavrov opposed to UN Syrian refugee visit

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 13:46
The UN Security Council is not entitled to give the green light for inspections of Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday, seeing it as an attempt to prepare "foreign intervention". The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) "is competent for (organising) visits of refugee camps that have been set by the UN, the Security Council has no competence for that," Lavrov said in Slovenia.

Pope calls for 'greater aid' for Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 12:46
Pope Francis called Friday for greater humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and surrounding countries, after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman at the Vatican. "The huge number of Syrian refugees who have sought refuge in Lebanon and the neighbouring countries gives rise to particular concern," the Vatican said following the talks. "Greater humanitarian aid is called for, for the refugees and the suffering population, with the support of the international community," it said.
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